Engine-starting apparatus



1,640,714 Aug. 30 J. w. MORRISON ENGINE START ING APPARATUS Filed Dec.13, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 30,1927.

J. w. MORRISON ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec 13,1924 'IIIIIIIVII- gwuwntoz Patented Aug. .30; 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOE W. MORRISON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TOGENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

ENGINE-STARTING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 13, 1924., Serial No. 755,649.

This invention relates toenginestartin apparatus and; particularly, tothe'type o apparatus which includes an electric motor and means forconnecting the motor with the engine including a pinion adapted to moveinto engagement with a gear con-v neeted ;w-ith the engine but normallyout of engagement therewith, and devices whereby operation of the motorwill cause the pinion to be completel meshed with the engine gear, afterhavlng been placed 1n partial engagement therewith, and whereby thepinion will be automatically disengaged from the engine gear when theengine starts. The objects of the present invention are directed moreparticularly to improvements in the manually operable mechanism forefi'ecting the initial engagement of thepinion with the engine gear. Inthe present invention the objects are accomplished by providing a springwhich normally tends to maintain the pinion'out of engagement with theengine gear, a pinion shifting device, a motor switch, and the means foropcrating the pinion shifting device to move the pinion toward the gear.and to setthe spring for urging the pinion against the gear, and forclosing the motor switch.

'Other and further objects and advantages H of the present inventionwill be apparent from the followingdescription, reference being made tothe accompanying drawings,

wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings: Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings are fragmentary sideviews partly in section of an embodiment of the present inventionshowingthe mechanism for connecting the motor 40 with the engine in differentpositions of operation. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates an electric motor and 21 thegear connected with the engine to be started. The means for connectingthe motor 20 with the gear 21 includes a pinion 22, threadedly engag ingthe spiral splines 23 of a shaft 24, op-- crate-d by the motor 20. Inthe form of 1nvention shown the shaft 24 is the motor armature shaft andis supported at one end by a gear housing 25, attached to the motorfield frame 26 which, by-means not shown, supports the other end. of theshaft 24. Shaft 24 carries a thrust collar 27, and a thrust washer 28 isinterposed between the collar 27 and the plane surface 29, provided bythe housing 25 It is apparent that causing the motor to operate whilethe pinion 22 is urged against the gear 21 will cause the pinion 22 tobe threaded into complete engagement with the gear 21 and against thestop collar 27, and that when the engine becomes self-operative, thepinion 22 Will beautomatically demeshed from the gear 21 due to spiralspline connection between the pinion 22 and the shaft 24 and to thefaster rotation of the engine gear 21 relative to the pinion 22. r

The manually operated mechanism for causing the pinion 22 to be urgedagainst the gear 21.and for causing the motor to operate includes apedal 30 attached to a rod 31 which extends through a cup-shaped member32 attached to the floor board 33 of an automobile. Rod 31 is connectedwith a pedal lever 34 pivoted upon a rod 35 supported by a bracket 36projecting from the gear housing 25. A spring 37 located between the cup32 and the pedal 30 tends to produce counter-clockwise rotation of thelever 34 until it engages a stop 38, provided by the shank ,of a stud39, which extends through the bracket 36. A pawl 40, which is pivotedupon a stud 41, attached to the lever 34, carries a pin 42; and lever 34carries a pin 43, These pins are connected by a spring 44 which tends toproduce counter-clockwise rotation of the pawl until it engages a stopstud 45 carried by a lever 34.

Gear housing 25 supports a bracket 46, extending parallel to butseparated from the bracket 36. Brackets 36 and 46 support a pin 47 whichprovides a pivot for the pinion shifting lever 48, carrying adjacent itsupper end a stud 49, providing a bearing for a roller 50, which islocated in the path of movement of the pawl 40. Lever 48 includesbranches 51 and 52 carrying studs 53 and 54 respectively. Studs 53 and54 are received by an annular groove 55 defined by flanges 56 and 57which are provided by a sleeve 58 preferably integralwith the pin ion22. A spring is connected with the stud 39 and with the stud 54.Normally the axis of the spring 70 is located at the left of the axis ofthe pin 47. Spring 70 is in an initial state of tension and, therefore,the spring 70 tends to produce clockwise rotation of the lever 48,causing the pinion 22 to be urged toward the left until the flange 56engages a stop member 59 provided by the shaft 241 The motor switch 60includes a case 61 attached to the motor frame 26 and provided with anactuating plunger 62 nor mally maintained in switch-open'position ,by aspring 63, which is interposed between the case 61 and a switchactuating bar 64, which is provided with a slot 65 through which the rodextends. The bar is confined laterally between the hub 34 of the lever34 and a washer 66 maintained upon the rod 35 by a cotter pin 67. Thebar 64 carries a stud 68 providing a bearing for a roller 69 which islocated in the path of movement of lever 34.

The operation of the invention is as follows: 9

Normally the pinion and its actuating mechanism are located as shown inFig 1.

To start the engine the pedal 30 is pressed downwardly, thereby causingthe pawl to engage the roller 50, carried by the pinion j shaft lever48. When the lever 34 first engages the roller 69, the bar 64 being yetin normal position, the pawl 40 will have 'moved the roller into theposition 50, indicated in Fig. 2 by dot and dash lines. When the roller50 is in the position 50, the spring 70 will have been moved so that itsaxis has passed to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, of the axis of thepin 47. The spring 70 is then set for producing counter-clock- ,wiserotation of the lever 48 and will, therefore, urge the pinion22 againstthe engine gear 21. If the teeth of pinion 22 register fwith the toothspaces of the gear 21, the

spring 70 will produce partial engagement of the pinion 22 and the gear21. If tooth abutment should occur, then the spring 70 will move thelever 48 at least as far as shown in Fig. 2, the pinion 22 then beingurged by the spring 7 0 against the end faces of the teeth of gear 21,When the pin 50 has ment with the gear 21 does not already exist,

closing of the motor-switch will cause the shaft 24 to effect thisregistration. The spring 70 will therefore produce a partial engagementof the pinion 22 and gear 21. When partial engagement is effected,rotation of the shaft 24 will cause the pinion 22 to be moved intocomplete engagement with the gear 21, and against the stop collar 27,

as shown in Fig. 3. When the engine becomes self-operative, the pinionwill be automatlcally disengaged from the engine gear 21 due to thespiral spline connection between the pinlon and motor shaft and to thefaster rotation of the engine gear relative to the pinion. As theinternal combustion .to cause the spring to be restored to normalposition; that is, the lever 48 will be moved sufficiently in aclockwise direction from the position shown in full lines, in Fig. 3, tocause the axis of the spring 70 to be located to the left of the axis ofthe pin 47. Consequently, the spring 7 0 will be reset for moving thelever 48 into the position 48, indicated by dash lines in Fig. 3.

The automatic demeshment of the pinion and the restoration of the spring70 to its normal position, may take place, although the operator maystill maintain the lever 34 in switch closing position as shown in Fig.3. It is obvious that movement of the roller 50 from the position shownin Fig. 3 to the position indicated at 50", may take place withoutinterference by the pawl 40. After the starting operation has beenaccomplished, the pedal 30 is released. The spring 37 restores the lever34 to the position shown in Fig. 1. As the pawl 40 returns from theposition shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig.1, it will rideover the roller 50. during which event the pawl 40 will be separatedfrom the stop 45, stretching the spring 44 beyond its initial state oftension. After the pawl 40 is free of the roller 50 the spring '44 willreturn the pawl 40 against the stop pin 45. The return of lever 34 tothe position shown in Fig. 1 permits the spring 63 to cause the switchplunger 62 to move up wardly, opening the switch.

If the engine should fail to start, after the pinion 22 has been engagedwith the engine gear 21, the motor switch may be opened by releasing thepedal 30, although the pinion remains in mesh with the engine gear.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow. 7

What I claim is as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; meansfor connecting the motor with the engine including a pinion adapted tomesh with a gear connect ed with the engine, and devices whereby'thepinion will be automatically demeshed from the engine gear when theengine starts and whereby operation of the motor will move the pinioninto complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion has beenbrought into contact or partial engagement with the engine gear; aspring normally set to urge the pinion away from the gear a pinionshifting device; a motor switch and means for operating the pinionshifting device to move the pinion toward the gear and to set the springfor urging the pinion into contact with thegear, and for closing themotor switch.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; meansfor connect-- ing the motor with the engine including a pinion, movableaxiall into and out of mesh with a gear connects with the engine, anddevices whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from theengine gear when the engine starts and whereby operation of the motorwill move the pinion into complete engagement with the engine gear afterthe pinion has been brought into contact or partial engagement with theengine gear; a pinion shifting device; a spring connected with saidshifting device and normally set to urge the pinion axially away fromthe gear; a motor switch; and means for operating the pinion shiftingdevice to move the pinion toward the gear and to set the spring forurging the pinion into contact with the gear, and for closing the motorswitch.

3. Engine starting apparatus, comprising in combination; a motor; meansfor connecting the motor with the engine, including a pinion movableaxiall into and out of mesh with a gear connecte with the engine, and

devices whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from theengine gear when the engine starts and whereby operation of the motorwill move the pinion into complete engagement with the engine gear afterthe pinion has been brought into contact or partial engagement with theengine gear; a lever for shifting the pinion; a coiled spring connectedwith said lever and a stationary part, the spring normally tending toproduce rotation of the lever in a'direction for moving the pinion awayfrom the gear; and means for moving the lever to move the pinion towardthe engine gear and to shift the spring until the spring tends toproduce rotation of the lever in a direction opposite to normal, wherebythe spring will urge the pinion against the gear; and a motor switchoperated by said lever movmg means.

4. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; aspirally splined shaft driven by the'motor; a pinion threadedly engagingthe shaft and axially movable into and out of engagement with a gearconnected with the engine; a lever for shifting the pinion; a colledspring'connected with said lever and a stationary part, the springnormally tending to produce rotation of the lever in a direction formoving the pinion away from the gear; a pedal operated device for movingthe lever to move the pinion toward the engine gear and to move thespring until the spring tends to produce rotation of the lever in adirection opposite to normal whereby the spring will urge the pinionagainst the gear; and a motor switch operated by said pedal device. 5.Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; means forconnecting the motor with the engine including a pinion adapted .to meshwith a gear connected with the engine, and devices whereby the pinionwill be automatically demeshed from the engine 'gear when theengine'starts and whereby operation of the motor will move the pinioninto complete engagement withthe engine gear after the pinion has beenbrought into contact or partial engagement with the engine gear; a motorswitch, res'ilient means adapted to urge the pinion against the enginegear but normally set for urging the pinion away from the engine gear;and means for setting said resilient means so that it will urge thepinion against the engine gear, and for closing the motor switch.

6. En ine starting apparatus comprising, in combination; a motor; meansfor connecting the motor with the engine including a pinion adapted tomesh with a gear connected with the engine; and devices whereby thepinion will be automatically demeshed from the engine gear when theengine starts'and whereby operation of the motor will move the pinioninto complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion hasbeenbrought into contactpr partial engagement with the engine gear; aspring normally set to urge the inion awa from the gear; a motor switc amem er adapted to be moved for setting the spring for urging the pinionagainst the ear; said member being restored to norma? by the automaticdemeshment of the pinion; and pedal operated means for moving saidmovable member into said spring setting position and then for closingthe motor switch, the pedal operated means While in switch-closingposition being out of the path of movement of the spring setting member,whereby the restoration of the spring setting member may take placeregardless of keeping the motor switch closed.

In testimony whereoffI hereto afiix my signature.

JOE W. MORRISON.

